Illuminated vanity case



Oct. 7, 1941. c ss 2,258,543

ILLUMINATED VANITY CASE Filed June 14, 1938' G. M. CRESSATY 2,258,543-ILLUMINATED VANITY CASE Filed June 14, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Willi IE5zazaaa wz v5 34 iL 34 92 Q Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED STATE S I PATENTOF-PIC E ,ILLUMINATED VANI Y CASE George M. Crcssaty,,NewYork, N. Y.

Application June 14, 1938, Serial ,No.,213,674

14 Claims.

This invention is directed to a vanity case wherein, through a relativesliding movement of the parts of the case, lighting means for the faceof the user may be provided at will.

The vanity case is :of particular form, in that the body in which thecosmetics are carried is mounted for sliding movement relative to thecover section, with the control of a lighting unit carried by the casedependent on the extent of relative sliding movement of the parts.

Aiurther object is the provision of a vanity case having relativelysliding parts and carrying a lighting unit, wherein the energizing ofthe light .sourceof the lighting unit is automatically accomplishedwhensuch parts of the case are moved to substantially their opening limit,with the light source in any other sliding relation completely,deenergized.

A further object is the provision of a vanity case with relative slidingparts so constructed that the cosmetic-carrying part is completelyhoused in the cover section when the parts are closed, with thecosmetic-carrying part provided with cosmetic receivers which are fullyexposed when the parts of the case are separated to less than theirfull'limit, whereby the cosmetics are fully avail'able to the user whenthe vanity case parts are fully opened, under which conditions the lightsource is energized, or partially opened when the light source is notenergized.

A further object is the provision of a vanity case with relativelysliding parts, and carrying a lighting unit with means for automaticallyenergizing the lightingunit when the sliding parts are in one relativesliding relation, and for automatically deenergizing said lighting unitwhen the sliding parts are in other sliding relations, whereby the usermay, by selecting the extent of slidingmovement of the parts, providealight -ornot, entirely without any attention or action on her partother than that of sliding the parts relatively.

Other objectsand advantages of the invention will become apparent duringthe course of L the following description and claims, with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the improved vanity case,with the parts in open relation;

Figure 2 is a similar view with the parts closed;

Figure 3 is a broken horizontalsection through the case, with thecontrol means for the enerfit gization of the light source in open ornon-circuiting relation;

Figurei is asimilar view, slightly enlarged, with thecontrol for thelight source shown closed to energize the light source;

Figure 5 is a broken sectional view showing a modified cam arrangementfor closing the circuit;

Figure -6 is a plan view of a modified form of vanity case, with the,parts open;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line 1-4 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is ,a sectional view on'the "line 8--8 of Figure 6; a

Figure -9 is a sectional view'on the line 9-9 of Figure 6; i i

Figure ilOis a sectional viewon the line Iii-l0 of Figure 6';

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a modified showing the spring stripsfor preventing casual movement of .the cosmetic or auxiliary sections.With particular reference to the form shown inFigures 1 "to 4, thevanity case is made up of a body section I, in which the cosmetics arecarried, and 'a cover section 2, in which the body section is housedwhen the cosmetics are not in use.

The body is in the "form of a plate I, formed or provided atits innerend, relative to the cover section 2, with a box-like casing '3, formingpart of and housing the lighting unit. The

opposite end of the body is formed or provided with a box-like container'4 in which the cosmetics, or certain of them, are carried. Thecontainer 4, which may be provided with a hinged lid 5 for access, isofthe same depth as the easin 3, but of increasedlongitudinal dimensionsin order to providethe maximum receiving space for the cosmetics, therebeing, however, an appreciable space 6 between the proximatewalls of thehousing and container.

The cover section 2 is made up of a bottom plate 1, side walls ,8, "anda hinged lid-9, on the inner surface of which is preferably .formed orprovided the necessary mirror Ill. The upper edges of the side walls 8are formed with inturned ledges ll, providing guiding supports for thebody section I in its sliding movements relative to the cover section 2.

The housing 3 contains the lighting unit, including batteries l2removably secured by clips l3, a light socket for receiving a lamp [4,and a circuiting means for controlling the energization of the lamp.This circuiting means includes a conducting strip l5 connecting oneterminal of both batteries and one terminal of the lamp socket, and asecond conducting strip l6 leading from the other terminal of thesocket. A spring switch strip I1 is terminally connected to one batteryand supported thereby, being insulated at l8 from the housing. Theopposite end of the switch strip H has a contact l9 arranged in linewith a contact on the strip I6, and a second contact 2| in line with theotherwise free terminal of the second battery. plunger 22 extends fromthe switch strip H, which plunger, under the normal resiliency of theswitch strip, projects through an opening 23 in the wall of the casing3. In the normal position of the switch strip [1, the contacts l9 and 20are spaced, and the contact 2| is out of contact with the terminal ofthe second battery.

The inner portion of the end of that wall of the cover section 2 nextthe plunger-carrying wall of the casing 3 is somewhat thickened to forma cam projection 24, adapted to engage and depress the plunger 22following outward sliding movement of the body section I. Thisdepression of the plunger will move the switchstrip I! to I closecontacts [9 and 29, and cause contact 2| to engage the terminal of thesecondbattery. The circuit is thus closed and the light is energized.

It will be apparent that, except for a limited distance preceding fullopening movement of the body section I, the light source is deenergized,and that energization of the light occurs when the sections are fullyopened. The user, by partly opening the parts, may use the vanity caseto its full function without use of the light, but, when the latter isdesired, the extended opening of the parts will produce the light. Thus,the use or'non use of the light is fully within the selective action ofthe user, and the control in any position is entirely automatic andrequires no attention or action other than the necessary movement of theparts to gain access to the cosmetics.

It will, of course, be appreciated that the, cam section 24 for closingthe lighting circuit, which is arranged at the end of the cover section,may be arranged at an intermediate point, or at a plurality of points onthe wall of the cover section. In Figure 5, the cam section, indicatedat 24, is shown at several spaced points on the cover wall, and any oneor more of such are contemplated. Thus, the body section, when movedrelative to the cover section, will energize the lighting unit at anintermediate point if only one cam is used, or at several successivepoints when more than one cam is provided. Energizing or deenergizing ofthe lighting unit may be effected in any one of several differentsliding relations of the sections.

The forward and upper walls of the casing 3 is preferably cutout toreceive a lens 25, particularly formed to direct an intensified lightmainly through the meeting edges of the lens parts, with the beamcontrolled in size and shape An operating to illuminate or concentrateon the face of the user. The space has end ledges 26 extending above theplate base to provide a receptacle for a lip stick or the like.

As shown in Figures 6 to 11, inclusive, the vanity case comprises a bodysection 2'! in which the cosmetics are carried, and a slide section 28movable within the body section 21. The body section 21 is formed as arectangular casing 29, closed, except at one end, and providedinteriorly with a cosmetic container 30. The container 30 is of somewhatless width than that of the body, providing narrow spaces 3| on eachside, the end wall of the body remote from the open end forming the endwall of the container 39 and the upper wall of the body forming theupper wall of the container. The vertical dimension of the container ismaterially less than that of the body, leaving a space 32 below thecontainer. The portion of the upper wall of the body forming the upperwall of the container is formed as a hinged lid for such container topermit access thereto.

The slide section 28 is provided as a hollow member having a bottomplate 34 with side walls The end of the slide section remote from thebody section is formed as a casing 36 for the lighting unit. This casinghouses batteries 31, between which is arranged a light socket forreceiving a lamp 38. The lamp, or more particularly the lamp-socketterminals, are in a circuit, including a conductor 39 leading from oneterminal of the first battery to one terminal of the lamp socket and aconductor leading from the other terminal of the lamp socket to theterminal of the second battery. The remaining terminal of the firstbattery is connected to a switch strip it, which extends lengthwise ofand is insulated from one wall 35 of the slide, While the other terminalof the second battery is connected to a similar switch strip 42, whichextends lengthwise and is insulated from the other wall 35 of the slidesection. The free ends of the switch strips 4! and 42 have lateralcontact lips .3, as shown more particularly in Figure 10.

The slide section 28 slides within the body section 2%, the walls 35 ofthe slide bearing against the side walls of the body section. Thesections 27 and 28 are of such relative dimensions that the slidesection may be completely housed within the body section, or thesectionsv may be moved relatively by sliding movement to any desiredextent. A contact bar 44 is secured to and insulated from the bodysection inwardly of and immediately adjacent the open end of the bodysection. This bar, when the sections are opened to their limit, is inthe path of movement of the lips 43 of the switch strips 4| and 42, and,as these lips engage the bar, the circuit is closed and the lightenergized. In any other relative positions of the slide and bodysections the circuit is broken and the light is not energized.

The plate section of the slide 28 beyond the casing for the lightingunit is provided with a mirror 45, and the casing of the lighting unitis formed to receive a lens 46 to increase the intensity of the lightand control the spread of the beam for concentrating the light on theface of the user.

The spaces 3i of the body section permit full movement of the side wallsand switch strips 4| and 42 of the slide section as such sections aremoved together, th space 32 accommodating the plate of the slide sectionin such movement.

In this modification, as in the construction first described, the user,by moving the slide and-body sections relatively to'less than the limitposition, may have full advantage of the mirrorand cosmetics, without,however, energizing the light. By moving the sections 'to their limitpositions the circuit is closed as described, and the light isenergized, 'The user may thus by convenient selective sliding movementprovide for the use or absence of the light as maybe desired, the

movement for either selective result being, so far as the energizationor deenergization is concerned, entirely automatic, and requiringneither attention-nor circuit control in anywaybe'yond relative slidingmovement of the sections.

In Figures '12 tol5, inclusive, the vanity case is constructed "toprovide for sliding movement of the parts, but there is also provided anadditional sliding section'arranged as a receptacle, preferably forarticles other than cosmetics. The light source is controlled in thesliding movement of the cosmetic-carrying section, the movement of theadditional section being without eifect'on the lighting unit. Allsections slide into a compact relative small form, and either slidingsection may be moved independently of the other at will.

In the preferred details illustrated, the cover section 41 is made up ofa bottom plate 48, side walls 49, and a cover plate 50 hinged formovement and preferablyprovided on its inner surface as a mirror 5|. Thesidewalls 49 are formed as housings 52, in which are removably arrangedbatteries 53 ofthe lighting unit. The inner surfaces of the batteryhousings 52 are formed with a guiding rib 54 extending centrally andlongitudinally, and slidably, supported oniand guided on the oppositeribs 54 is a cosmetic section 55, while below, and guided by the ribs54, is another section '56 supported on the bottom plate 48 of the coversection. This section 56 will be hereinafter termed the auxiliarysection.

The lighting "unit includes 'a housing 51' arranged centrally of one endwall of the cover section, within which is arranged a lamp socket andlamp 58, the housing being appropriately providedwith an appropriatelens 59. One terminal of each battery 53 is grounded in its housdoors63, through which access is gained to the cosmetics within the section.This upper wall of the cosmetic section is extended as a plate 64 of thefull width of the section, and serving, when the cosmetic section isfully closed, to cover the lighting unit. Depending from the plate 64are fingers 65 made of electrical insulating material, movable in a pathcrossing the strips 60, and serving, when the cosmetic section is fullyclosed, to move the terminals of the strips 60 free of the contacts 6|.Thus, when the cosmetic section is fully closed the circuit to thelighting unit is broken, and when such section is moved toward openposition the circuit is closed, and the lighting unit energized. It isto be noted that in both movements of the cosmetic section the controlof the lighting unit,

both as to energization and deenergization, is entirely automatic. i

In order to prevent a'sual outward movement of either the cosmeticorauxiliary sections when "the vanity .case is tilted and: movement of thesections is not desired, spring strips 66, as in Figure 16, are placedbetween .the sides of the sections and the adjacent Wallruof. "thebattery housings 152.. The cosmetic and auxiliary sections "may vbemoved when desired against the restraint of the springs 166 by'pulls 61.

The auxiliary section, 56 may be merely an :opentor door-protectedreceptacle, or may be interiorly formed for a particular use, asiforcig- EI'ElZtBS-OI'OthEI'294131710198;

. The cosmetic .section is accessible for use of the :cosmetics merelyby raising the cover plate 5|, but in this instance the lighting unit isdeenergized. If artificial light is desired, the cosmetic section ismoved outwardly relative to :the cover sectionfby which movement thelighting unit is automatically energized and the lens of thelighting'unit exposed to permit the user to have the full benefit of thelight in the use of the vanity case. The auxiliary section may bemovedat will to gain access to its contents without affecting the lightingunit.

Both the cosmetic and auxiliary sections fit snugly within theicoversection to form a .relathis small compact fvanity case, which may beconveniently carried in the purse orpocket.

It will be appreciated that, in the several forms illustrated anddescribed, the severalusections of the vanity case are movable relativeto each :other by sliding action. In the'formsillustrated, the sectionsmove in parallel longitudinal planes, but it is obvious that exactlytheidenticalresults described may be accomplished where the respectivesections slide at irightdangles to each other and that such a specificarrangement is contemplated as within the definition of sliding sectionsboth in the "specification and claims. Furthermore, the relativesections are so connected that either may beheld while the other ismoved, or both sections may be moved .rela- :tively :at the same timewithout in any wayinterfering with the operative function and resultdescribedrin the claims. Also, the respective sections may be made .inany relative sizes, and are preferably so constructed that when inclosed arelation they interfit to form a compact vanity case which inappearance presents the size and thickness of a single element only.This relation oftheparts provides for large capacity without increase ofsize or thickness, and yet, when in use, develops a position in whichthe lighting unit mayor may not beavailable, in which the mirrorisexposed for reflection and in which the contained cosmetics are readilyand conveniently available.

All movable parts are thoroughly protected and guarded against breakageor disconnection, thereby permitting a foolproof construction which maybe conveniently light, and which, together with the automatic control ofthe lighting unit, and with this control within the selective operationof the user, provides a vanity case which, while possessing innumerableadvantages over the conventional vanity case without light or withoutextension, is nevertheless, so far as the user is concerned, asconveniently usable with each and every desired function as is suchconventional vanity case.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A vanity case including a cover section, a

body section mounted for sliding movement with respect to the coversection, a lighting unit carried with the body section, a cosmeticreceptacle carried by the body section in spaced relation with thelighting unit, the space in the body section between the lighting unitand cosmetic receptacle being formed as an open retainer for desiredarticles.

2. A vanity case having a cover section and a' body section slidablycooperating so that one such section may be substantially completelyhoused in the other, a mirror carried by one section, a cosmeticreceptacle carried by and forming a part only of the other section, alighting system including a light source, batteries, and circuitingelements completely housed in one of the sections, and means forcompleting the circuit through such circuiting elements in apredetermined sliding relation of the sections.

3. A construction as defined in claim 2, wherein the means forcompleting the circuit is operative through relative opening slidingmovement of the sections and is inoperative for circuit-closing functionin any opening movement of the sections in advance of the predeterminedposition.

4. A construction as defined in claim 2, Wherein an independent cover isprovided for the cosmetic receptacle and operative in any relation ofthe sections without regard to the energization of the lighting system.

5. A construction as defined in claim 2, wherein the means forcompleting the circuit includes a member movably mounted in one section,and wherein means are formed on the other section to engage and operatesuch member in the opening movement of the sections.

6. A construction as defined in claim 2, wherein the means forcompleting the circuit includes a pin movably mounted in one section anda projection formed on the other section to engage and operate the pinfor closing the circuit in a predetermined open relation of thesections.

7. A construction as defined in claim 2, wherein the lighting system andcosmetic receptacle are carried by and movable with one section only.

8. A construction as defined in claim 2, wherein the mirror is carriedby the cover section and serves to close and cover the lighting systemand cosmetic receptacle when the sections are in completely closedrelation. I

9. A vanity case including two relatively sliding sections, one fittingwithin the other, a lighting unit carried by one section, a cosmetic re-1;

ceptacle carrier by the other section, a lighting unit circuit normallyopen in one sliding relation of the sections other than substantiallythe open limit sliding relation, and means for automatically closing thecircuit in such substantially open-limit position.

10; A vanity case including a cover section, a body section slidablerelative to the cover section, a lighting unit in the body section, acircuit for the lighting unit including spaced contact bars, and meanson the body section electrically to bridge said bars to complete thecircuit in a predetermined sliding relation of the cover and bodysections.

11. A vanity case including a cover section, a lighting unit in thesection, means for energizing the lighting unit, an article-receivingsection slidable in the cover section, an additional section arranged inrelative sliding relation to the cover section, and means on theadditional section for automatically controlling the energization anddeenergization of the lighting unit in accordance with the slidingrelation of the additional section to the cover section.

12. A vanity case including a cover section, a mirror carried by thecover section, a cosmeticcarrying body having a drawer-like slidingcooperation with the cover section, said body having a lighting unitreceptacle and a cosmetic receiving receptacle in spaced relation, alighting unit in the lighting unit receptacle, energizing means for thelighting unit carried by the lighting unit receptacle, the distance ofthe lighting unit in relation to the mirror being changed in relativemovement of the body section, and means in the body section to controlthe energization and deenergization of the lighting unit in accordanceWith the distance spacing of the lighting unit from the mirror.

13. A vanity case including a lighting unit, a cover section, a bodysection, and a plurality of superimposed relatively-sliding sections movable in the body section as a unit or separately, one of such slidingsections covering or exposing the lighting unit in its relative limitsliding positions.

14. A vanity case including a lighting unit, a cover section, a bodysection, a cosmetic receptacle movable in the body section, energizingmeans for the lighting unit carried by the body section, a switch forthe energizing means constructed to close such means for energizing thelighting unit when the cosmetic receptacle is initially moved in onedirection relative to the body, said cosmetic receptacle, when moved toits limit relation to the body section in the opposite direction,operating the switch to open the energizing means and at the same serveto conceal the lighting unit.

GEORGE M. CRESSATY.

